Water Quality Reports

Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst

**Updated July 2021 to include most recent water quality info

For Hydroviv’s city of Glendale water quality assessment, we aggregated water quality test data from City of Glendale Water and Power, the city’s water provider, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we build for people who live in Glendale are optimized with these figures in mind.

Source Of Glendale Drinking Water

In 2016, 65% of Glendale’s water was purchased from the Metropolitan Water District, after being imported and treated from Northern California and the Colorado River. The remaining 35% comes from local groundwater sources extracted from the Verdugo and San Fernando Basins. In addition, 7% of total water used in 2016 was recycled water delivered by the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant, though this water is only used for irrigation and industrial purposes.

Arsenic In Glendale Drinking Water

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that is known to cause cancer and other health issues. Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself. While the city of Glendale's water quality is in compliance with EPA water quality standards, it’s important to point out that EPA’s standard balances the toxicity against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The most recent City of Glendale water report revealed that the water from the Jensen plant had average arsenic levels of 3.1 parts per billion, while the Glendale Treatment Plant had up to 1.6 parts per billion. We recommend that anyone with more than 1 part per billion take steps to remove arsenic from their water, especially if there are children in the home.

Extremely High Chromium 6 Levels In Glendale Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not currently regulated by the EPA, and is only loosely regulated at the state level. In the most recent water quality data, the Glendale Treatment Plant averaged 5300 parts per trillion of chromium 6, with a maximum measured concentration of 6400 parts per trillion. To put it in perspective, these levels are 265 and 320 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Glendale Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA website discloses that high levels of disinfection byproducts in drinking water are are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Still Have Questions About Glendale Tap Water Or Water Quality In General?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Glendale, but our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants found in Glendale's tap water, including VOCs, pesticides, lead, and mercury.

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Glendale's water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople on staff).

Please Share This City of Glendale Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

Emma Schultz M.S.  |  Scientific Contributor

Updated June 11, 2021 to include most recent data

For our Anchorage water quality assessment, we aggregated water quality test data from the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, the water provider for Anchorage, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we sell in Anchorage are optimized with these issues in mind.

Source Of Anchorage Drinking Water

Anchorage tap water comes from both ground and surface waters. Eklutna Lake, which is surrounded by the snowfields and glaciers of Chugach State Park, accounts for approximately 84% of the water that Anchorage customers receive. Supplementary surface water comes from Ship Creek, much of which is also in Chugach State Park. Ancillary groundwater (12% of the supply in 2016) comes from ten wells in Anchorage and Chugiak-Eagle River, which pump from aquifers that are also recharged by the runoff and snowmelt from the Chugach Mountains.

Lead In Anchorage Drinking Water

Lead enters into a customer’s tap water through lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures fail (such as recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and reaches toxic levels. Recent analysis for lead in Anchorage found a 90th percentile concentration of less than 1 part per billion. Of the 45 sites sampled, no sites exceeded the set Action Level of 15 ppb. While Anchorage's tap water is in compliance with all federal regulations, both the EPA and CDC acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead. In addition, federal regulations cannot possibly account for levels measured at an individual tap.

Chromium 6 In Anchorage Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal not currently regulated by the EPA. Anchorage tap water has recently averaged a substantial 580 parts per trillion for chromium 6. These levels are 28 times higher than the minimum concentration determined to have a negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Anchorage Drinking Water

DBPs are emerging contaminants that are formed when chlorine-based disinfectants are added to the water supply, and later combine with naturally-occurring organic matter. These chemicals are not well-regulated, but the EPA has stated that they are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. Anchorage tap water has levels of DBPs with a 2020 average of 16.1 parts per billion (more of which comes from trihalomethanes than from haloacetic acids).

Use Of Chlorine In Anchorage Tap Water

As with much of the United States, Anchorage adds chlorine to its water to protect its consumers against waterborne illness. While not considered overtly harmful, many people find that removing chlorine from their drinking water greatly improves their overall taste and odor. When you choose to filter your tap water, we expect that you will notice an immediate improvement in taste.

Still Have Questions About Anchorage Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The chemicals that we list above are what we consider to be “points of emphasis” so we can build the best water filter for Anchorage tap water, but all of our water filters provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals [including lead], pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Anchorage tap water, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook.

Please Share This Anchorage Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information! 

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Emma Schultz M.S.  |  Scientific Contributor
**Updated July 31, 2019 to include current data

We've updated our assessment of Lexington drinking water to include the most current data. Our Water Nerds aggregated water quality test data from Kentucky American Water, the water provider for Lexington, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze.  e cross reference contaminant data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we sell in Lexington are optimized with these issues in mind.

Lexington's Drinking Water Sources

Lexington tap water is sourced from surface water. Water comes from the Kentucky River where it runs through Owen County south of Lexington, and from the Jacobson Reservoir, which is located in Fayette County. According to source water assessments, the Kentucky River is most vulnerable to contamination from agricultural runoff, while the Jacobson Reservoir is most vulnerable to urban storm water runoff.

Chromium 6 Levels In Lexington Tap Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not presently regulated by the EPA. Lexington's tap and drinking water quality has recently averaged 76 parts per trillion for chromium 6. These levels are nearly 4 times higher than the concentration determined to have a negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Lexington Drinking Water

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are halogenated emerging contaminants that occur when chlorine-based disinfectants are added to the water supply and subsequently combine with naturally-occurring organic matter. These chemicals are not well-regulated, but the EPA has stated that they have been linked to increased risks of bladder cancer, and kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. The highest level detected in Lexington drinking water was 110 parts per billion, which exceeds the 80 part per billion Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) The highest level of haloacetic acids was 54.2 parts per billion, which is just under the MCL of 60 parts per billion. 

Chloramine Is Used To Disinfect Lexington Tap Water

Although most cities use chlorine as their primary disinfectant, Lexington’s water is disinfected with chloramine, which is generated by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine is often responsible for what customers report as the “bad taste”of tap water, and, unlike with chlorine, this taste does not dissipate if water is left in the fridge overnight. Most one-size-fits-all water filters use filtration media that doesn’t successfully remove the chloramine taste, but the filters that Hydroviv builds for Lexington use special filtration media purpose-built to remove chloramine.

Still Have Questions About Lexington Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The chemicals that we list above (lead) are part of what we take into consideration when we optimize water filters specifically for Lexington tap water, but all of our water filters provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Lexington tap water, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook.

Please Share This Lexington Drinking Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst
**Updated June 11, 2021 to include current data

Hydroviv’s Water Nerds have updated our assessment of Huntington Beach water to include the most current available data. We look at information from quality test data from the Huntington Beach Utilities Division, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we build for users in Huntington Beach are optimized with these data in mind. 

Source Of Huntington Beach Drinking Water

Huntington Beach drinking water is a blend of groundwater provided by Orange County Water District, water imported from Northern California, and water from the Colorado River by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). 77% of Huntington Beach water comes from groundwater sources, and 23% is imported surface water from the Colorado River. Groundwater comes from a natural underground aquifer that is replenished with water from the Santa Ana River, local rainfall, Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System, and imported water. The groundwater basin is 350 square miles and lies beneath north and central Orange County from Irvine to the Los Angeles County border and from Yorba Linda to the Pacific Ocean.

The State of California last performed a Source Water Assessment in 2002, and they found that the surface water sources are most vulnerable to runoff from increased urbanization and other types of runoff. The groundwater sources are considered most vulnerable to pollution from: dry cleaners, electrical/electronic manufacturing, gas stations, known contaminant plumes, metal plating, finishing, or fabricating, military installations and plastics/synthetics producers.

Arsenic In Huntington Beach Drinking Water

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal that is known to cause cancer and other health issues. Unlike lead, which distributes into water from plumbing, arsenic comes from the source water itself. While Huntington Beach is in compliance with EPA water quality standards, it’s important to point out that EPA’s standard balances the toxicity against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The most recent tap water quality report for Huntington Beach reported an average arsenic concentration up to 2 parts per billion. We strongly recommend that anyone with more than 1 part per billion take steps to remove arsenic from their water, especially if they have children.

Chromium 6 In Huntington Beach Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that is not currently regulated by the EPA. In recent years, Huntington Beach tap water has averaged 105 parts per trillion for Chromium 6. To put it in perspective, these levels are 5 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Huntington Beach Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA website on disinfection byproducts discloses that exposure to high levels of disinfection byproducts are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Chlorine and Chloramine In Huntington Beach Drinking Water

Like many other municipalities in the United States, Huntington Beach treats its water with chlorine to protect against waterborne illness. Huntington Beach also imports water from MWDOC, which disinfects the water with chloramines. While these two disinfectants are not typically considered to be harmful on its own (unless you are a dialysis patient), many people find that removing chlorine and chloramine from drinking water greatly improves its taste and odor.

Still Have Questions About Huntington Beach Drinking Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Huntington Beach, but all of our our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants (including lead).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Huntington Beach tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

Please Share This Huntington Beach Water Quality Report On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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